We sympathise with folks that have been affected by the recent bad weather, a lot of what has effected Britain first passed over us in Brittany, several rivers flooded, also canal's, land slides and numerous reports of property damage caused by wind & rain. You can't take a ten minute drive without counting dozens of trees brought down by the storms.

Tony, we had high winds come through a few hours ago, a few slates missing off the roof and a cement mixer re positioned, maybe the same storm? You & Kath keep your heads down, have a glass of no12 and stay safe. We hope everyone stays safe...

Thanks Bedlam - I've been thinking we don't hear how the weather has been affecting nearby countries. Surprised no one is ascribing it to Eurocrats! Not too bad here though I think we were on the southern edge of the worst. Damage to a short bit of fence that was getting on a bit but otherwise OK. Overall I don't think it was anywhere as near as bad as the hurricane of '87 - which Kath always reminds me (and anyone else) I managed to sleep through.

On the road into the small California farming community of Mendota the signs read “Stop – dust bowl!” and “Save Water” as farmers in orchards are busy bulldozing withered almond trees.

It didn’t used to be like this here. Until recently this town of 11,000 people was proudly known as the “Cantaloupe Capital of the World”. Of all the many local crops its melons were most prized. Mendota’s farmers have been growing them since the 1920s, when Greek immigrants arrived and found the soil was perfect. The lush fields used to provide 70 per cent of America’s cantaloupes.

But today Mendota is becoming known for another reason. It sits at ground zero in an unfolding, slow motion billion dollar disaster, what climatologists are calling an “epochal” drought. Analysis of the rings in ancient sequoia trees suggests the region is experiencing a lack of rain not seen since 1580, around the time Sir Francis Drake reached the California coast and claimed it for Elizabeth I.

Flood-hit areas earmarked for more homesCouncils have issued plans to build hundreds of new homes in some of the areas worst affected by the country's flooding crisis

Mark Wilson, the chief executive of Aviva, Britain’s largest insurer, calls for a halt to building on “defenceless” floodplains. In the past decade alone, tens of thousands of homes have been built in areas of significant flood risk, with the British insurance industry paying out more than £5 billion to homes and businesses since 2000. Mr Wilson says: “As a nation we need to build more homes, but the cost of development must include the cost of defences. Let’s be crystal clear: no defences, no development.”

Throughout the country, tens of thousands of properties are due to be built on high-risk “grade 3” flood land as councils struggle to meet government targets for house-building.

Between 2001 and 2011, about 40,000 properties were built on wholly or largely undefended plains at “significant risk” of flooding, according to a report produced by a sub-committee of the Government’s committee on climate change. Floodplain development grew faster than building in the rest of the country.

In the six years to 2011, the Environment Agency did not object to more than half of all planning applications for flood-risk areas, the report said. In about half the cases where it did oppose an application, it dropped its objection after negotiations with councils and developers. In almost 10,000 cases over the past six years reported, the agency was not informed of the final outcome of the application. In the past year alone, councils allowed 87 developments involving 560 new homes to proceed against Environment Agency opposition.

There are no national regulations to prevent developers from building homes on floodplains, and construction companies bear none of the subsequent risk should the houses flood.

The full scale of the damage being wreaked upon wildlife and ecosystems by flooding can be revealed today, as conservationists warn that Britain could have an “absolutely devastating environment incident” on its hands.

Noxious hydrogen sulphide fumes and lead poisoning are among the threats from floodwater contamination – while animals at almost all stages of the food chain, from insects to small mammals and birds, are already thought to be drowning or dying from lack of food.

Hedgehogs, badgers, voles, worms, birds, wood mice and bumblebees – all are said to be perishing, according to experts.

Many animals could be poisoned by floodwater redistributing pesticides and toxic chemicals from industrial sites, a new report indicates.

More sinkholes expected to swallow up BritainBritain should brace itself for more sinkholes opening up as geologists find they are appearing at five times their normal rate, and areas near homes and roads are at risk

Sinkholes are rapidly appearing across Britain as downpours continue and geologists warn more are expected to open up in the coming months – even when the rains stop.

Sinkholes are closely associated with heavy rainfall, but... once the deluge stops and groundwater levels start to recede there is a risk of even more.

Poor old UK, homes have being blown away, washed away or flooded and now, could possibly disappear down a bloody great hole - I think I would rather cope with a major earthquake every 50-60 years! I hope I don't have to eat my words any time soon..!

More sinkholes expected to swallow up BritainBritain should brace itself for more sinkholes opening up as geologists find they are appearing at five times their normal rate, and areas near homes and roads are at risk

Sinkholes are rapidly appearing across Britain as downpours continue and geologists warn more are expected to open up in the coming months – even when the rains stop.

Sinkholes are closely associated with heavy rainfall, but... once the deluge stops and groundwater levels start to recede there is a risk of even more.

It's actually rather pleasant darn sarf today, very cold/frosty start but went for an amble at lunchtime and sun made me take my scarf off - looking forward to actually being able to do something in the garden this weekend other than stare at the mud